Tetanus vaccination campaign launched in North Darfur

A six-day campaign was launched in North Darfur on Wednesday, which aims to vaccinate women of child-bearing age (between 15 and 45 years old) in vulnerable areas of the state against tetanus.

North Darfur Health Ministry official, Imadeldin Fathallah Badawi, the said that the campaign which will target the localities of Um Kadada, Kutum, Mellit, Dar Elsalam, El Kuma, Kalamindo, El Tina, and El Waha, where pregnant women and new-born babies are most vulnerable to tetanus.

He explained that the vaccination campaign will be carried out via fixed and branch centres, and mobile teams.

Strategic document

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health in Khartoum signed a strategic document with a number of international partners, to eliminate tetanus among mothers and new-borns by 2020.

The Minister of Health of Sudan, Bahar Idris Abu Garda, announced launching of the campaign in 76 localities out of 15 states as of Wednesday

The document was signed by the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Population Fund, UNICEF, civil society organizations networks, the National Population Fund, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Association of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialists.

Addressing the launch celebration, Minister Abu Garda renewed the government’s commitment to health issues at all levels.

He stressed  the Ministry’s commitment to creating conducive environment for civil society organisations and to work with them to eliminate tetanus.

The representative of the United Nations Population Fund, Mohamed Amin Saad, said the Fund’s provision of assistance for the rehabilitation of 3,000 midwives of the Ministry of Health, and equipping 100 hospitals to eradicate the disease.

He pointed out that the Fund is working to provide medical equipment to protect mothers and children from tetanus in the conflict zones.